In Tuesday's stirring ceremony, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that "23 years later, we welcome you here and it is a great moment."

Suu Kyi has persevered for decades in promoting democracy. She and her National League for Democracy party were frozen out of politics by the military regime that governed until 2011, and last year she and several dozen party members won parliamentary seats. However, a clause in the army-dictated constitution disqualifies her from becoming president.

She is now seeking the constitutional changes that would allow her to seek the presidency.